1.
SV Tanks passing by
0.22

2.
CU Barrels of tanks PAN DOWN TO Engineers working
0.33

3.
CU Russian tanks PULL OUT TO GV Tanks
0.40

4.
CU Tank driving past
0.46

5.
CU Tank crew as tanks manoeuvre past (3 shots)
1.02

6.
MV Tanks, scout cars driving pat
1.31



Initials CL/1848 CL/1858



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Hundreds of Soviet tanks which fell into Israeli hands during the 1973 Middle east war are being converted for use by the Israeli defence forces.

The tanks are mainly the T-54 and T-55 models and many were also captured in the 1967 war. By 1972, many of these had been modified to Israeli requirements and were in service with the Israeli Army or held in reserve. They had the Israeli designation of TI-67.

The modifications include replacing the Soviet machine guns with American machine guns, replacing the 100mm gun by the British designed 105mm gun, which is built in Israel, the fitting of a new electrical system as well as an air-conditioning system and improving the fire control system.

The tanks wee taken on the Syrian and Egyptian fronts and now several units in the Israeli defence forces are supplied entirely with them.

The conversion saved Israel valuable funds at a time when its defence spending is hit by soaring costs. Severe cuts have been made in many parts of the industry.

SYNOPSIS: These Soviet-built tanks were captured by Israel in the nineteen seventy-three and nineteen sixty-seven wars in the Middle East. Now they have been converted by engineers and are being used by the Israeli Defence Forces. They are mainly the T-fifty-four, T-fifty-five, and T-sixty-two types.

The modifications include the replacing of the Soviet machine guns with American machine guns and replacing the hundred millimetre gun with a British designed model. A new electrical system was fitted as well as an airconditioning system, and the fire control system was improved. The tanks are manned by a crew of four.

Most of the tanks were taken on the Syrian front, although some came from Egypt. Now the tanks are relied on by many of the units in the defence forces.

The conversion of the tanks saved Israel valuable funds at a time when its defence industry is hit by soaring costs. Israel's defence expenditure has almost trebled in the past two years and severe cuts have been made in many sections. It now faces the dilemma of having modern equipment to sell but there's a lack of capital to produce it.